Chapter 481

Through the blur of my tears, he was just a fading outline in the distance. I’d watched him walk away so many times before, but this time? It felt different, like it finally had nothing to do with me anymore.

The tears didn’t last long. Sadness kind of fizzled, leaving pure, boiling anger. I was mad. Mad at Hayden for throwing us away over some dumb misunderstanding, mad because, in the end, he was like everyone else—quick to bail when things got real.

Fine, if Hayden was done, then so was I. No way I’d sit here waiting.

After a shower, I got into bed, my phone lighting up with texts from Wayne and Jace, both wanting to know how things went with Hayden. But telling them would just lead to a whole round of pity or guilt, and I wasn’t in the mood to explain.

So, I ignored both of them. But when Lena texted, I actually replied. Honestly, though, she’d been so wrapped up with Nate that I hadn’t heard a word from her in days. She didn’t even know I’d almost died.

“[Oh, so you’ve finally climbed out of Nate’s bed? Remember me, your best friend?]” I texted, throwing in a little sass.

Lena called me right away, her face filling the screen, looking ridiculously happy. “Hey, I didn’t want to interrupt you and Hayden!”

I rolled my eyes. “Please, you’ve been so busy with Nate, you forgot about everyone else.”

She grinned, glancing around like she was keeping secrets. “As if! Anyway, how’ve you been? You and Hayden doing some baby-making yet?”

Typical Lena—straight to the point, like the doctor she is. Her words stung, but I knew she didn’t mean to. She had no clue Hayden and I had fallen apart.

I went quiet, and she immediately caught on. “Wait, what happened?”

“I broke up with Hayden.”

“What?!” she practically yelled. “How the hell did that happen?”

I closed my eyes and tossed the phone onto the bed. I gave her the short version, ending with, “He’s just like the rest. All that talk about accepting me and my past? Total BS. One stupid news article, and he was already doubting me.”

“This better be the last time,” Lena said, her voice sharp.

I knew she wasn’t talking about Hayden. She meant I needed to stop keeping her in the dark.

“Yeah, yeah. But I’m already dumped and miserable, so stop trying to scare me,” I sighed.

She huffed. “You’re usually so smart. How’d you get so dumb this time? You seriously think a guy who trusted your ex to take care of you would dump you over some badly edited photos and gossip?”

Chapter 481

Her words made me pause. She had a point—Hayden’s reaction didn’t really make sense. But then I remembered the way he spoke earlier. “He’s part of the Hart family now, all high and mighty. Probably thinks I’m not good enough for him anymore.”

“Oh, please. That man was broke for thirty years. He’s not turning into some snob overnight,” Lena shot back, defending Hayden, as always.

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Okay, but then why did he dump me?”

“I don’t know, I’m not a psychic,” Lena said, shaking her head. “But there’s one thing I do know—he wouldn’t dump you over some tabloid trash or because of his new status,” she added, like she had Hayden all figured out.

I stared up at the ceiling. “Well, he still dumped me. No matter what I said, he wanted out.”

“Fine, let him break up with you. But here’s what you do—flirt with someone else, right in front of him. It’ll drive him insane,” she suggested, despite having Hayden’s back a minute ago.

I chuckled. “Wow, that’s vicious. But seriously? He already thinks I’m not over Jace, and now you want me to toy with another guy? What’s he gonna think then?”

“Let him think whatever he wants. You do you. Trust me, he’s acting tough now, but he’s gonna regret it later,” Lena said, way too sure of herself.